VINELAND, New Jersey – John “Doc” DeLeonardis was busy and hard to catch for a conversation.

As the co-owner and operator of the Delsea Drive-In, the only remaining drive-in theater in New Jersey, he was continually on the go on a Saturday night, directing vehicles into the entrance and onto one of the two fields set for double feature films.

The walkie-talkie clipped to his side crackled with the chatter of his staff. Cars, trucks, and SUVs cruised down dirt paths, looking for spots marked by aged white speaker poles. Guests crowded around picnic tables near the concession stand, eagerly awaiting food and snacks they had quickly ordered online.

When a man pulled up in a truck and explained that his friend couldn’t join him, DeLeonardis learned he had purchased two tickets in advance. He smiled and agreed to let the extra ticket go to a friend in need, jokingly adding to “keep an eye out for single women” for the man.

Such personalized service is what distinguishes drive-in theaters from large cinema chains, noted D. Vogel, who is the vice president of the United Drive-In Theatre Owners Association and the owner of Bengies Drive-In Theatre in Middle River, Maryland.

This personalized touch is common among the nearly 300 drive-in theaters in the U.S., most of which are independently owned, reflecting a devotion to a nearly century-long tradition.

“Once you become passionate about movies, it’s tough to let go,” said Vogel.

‘Sit in your car and enjoy talkies’

The first drive-in theater was created by Richard Hollingshead, a businessman from New Jersey, who set up screens on a field located along Admiral Wilson Boulevard, linking Camden with its suburb, Pennsauken.

Advertisements from the Morning Post on June 6, 1933, informed potential patrons that they could “sit in your car and enjoy talkies” with three nightly showings available, priced at 25 cents per car and an additional 25 cents per person, or a total of $1 for a family ticket. Cars could park in “individual driveways” designed to be three times the length of a car, creating “private theater boxes” at “the world’s first automobile theater.”

A few days later, reports stated that 600 vehicles queued up for the opening night of the theater, which Hollingshead had built at a cost of $60,000.

Vogel, who owns Bengies in Maryland and serves as vice president of the drive-in operators’ group, shares a personal connection to this movie tradition: His stepfather, Jack K. Vogel, designed Bengies and several other drive-ins across New Jersey, Ohio, and even one in Peru.

John Watzke is part of the third generation managing the Ocala Drive-In in Florida. His family legacy includes both his grandfather and father, who worked as projectionists, and he followed in their footsteps until theaters transitioned to digital formats, making it necessary for operators to adapt.

“You have to be truly passionate about it,” he remarked. “While you may not strike it rich, it is possible to earn a decent living with hard work.”

A different experience than indoor cinemas

DeLeonardis, who co-owns Delsea Drive-In with his wife, Jude, puts in a lot of effort, as does she. His nickname, Doc, is not just for show: he is also a pediatrician, while Jude is a registered nurse. They have four adult children, including triplets and one son with special needs.

In 2003, they acquired the drive-in, which originally opened its doors in 1949 before shutting down 38 years later. After investing significant time and financial resources into the venue nestled in the woods, they successfully relaunched it in 2004.

“My husband views everything as a challenge,” Jude DeLeonardis recalled. “And I’m the one in the dust behind him.”

Operating a drive-in “requires a tremendous amount of effort,” she explained. Some of the hurdles they face include ensuring sufficient staff, competing with indoor cinemas and streaming services, and the costs linked to maintaining a large outdoor venue, complete with concession stands, speakers, screens, and other essential technology. Many cinemas located in regions with moderate climates, like New Jersey, are only able to function seasonally.

“After two decades in business, we’ve cultivated a loyal customer base,” she noted. However, adaptations have been necessary: during the pandemic, they transitioned to online ordering for concessions, a system they have retained to streamline their operations and reduce waste. They have also installed a solar panel system and worked to minimize plastic usage in their concessions.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Jenna and Lewie Letts lowered the tailgate on their Dodge pickup, and their daughters—4-year-old Mila and 8-year-old Hailey—got comfy to view “Despicable Me 4” and “Inside Out 2” on one of Delsea’s two screens. The family traveled about an hour from Little Egg Harbor to Vineland, a visit they used to make annually. This was their first trip since the pandemic, and it was Mila’s very first experience at a drive-in.

“We love it here because the kids have more space to move around,” Lewie commented. “They certainly can’t do that at an indoor cinema.”

“It’s more affordable too,” Jenna added: a double feature costs just $12.50, and kids under 4 can enter for free.

Inside a Kia SUV, Danielle Albert and Jeffrey Michaels were waiting for “Twisters” and “Deadpool & Wolverine” at another screen.

“Drive-ins are fantastic,” Albert shared, reminiscing about watching films at a drive-in in Maryland, including the first “Twister,” with her mother during her childhood.

More than a film. A cherished memory.

Aaron Clark, the general manager of the Ford-Wyoming Drive-In in Dearborn, Michigan, told the Detroit Free Press that his childhood was filled with “watching every major film at that theater.” He started working there as a child, selling tickets since he was seven years old, helping his father, Bill, who co-owned the drive-in.

Aaron, along with his siblings and other relatives, has taken on various duties managing the independently run theater. In 2021, he became a co-owner with his father after the pandemic forced him to close his construction business.

“For many, drive-ins are a refuge where guests can escape their worries for a few hours,” Clark observed.

Vogel suggested the drive-in’s allure stems largely from nostalgia. However, he emphasizes that the experience is so much more. “At a drive-in, there are other things to appreciate. I have the stars! An indoor theater cannot compete with that.”

Watzke, the owner of the Ocala Drive-In, describes the “freedom” that is lacking in enclosed theaters. Approximately 70% of his guests are families with young children, and he focuses on programming the first movie in each feature for kids, followed by a more adult-friendly second feature (while still appropriate for children).

“You can’t just waltz into a cinema with a small child and enjoy the experience,” he noted. “Here, kids can wear their pajamas, play, make noise, or even doze off if they feel tired. You don’t need to hire a babysitter.”

The family-friendly environment was what attracted the DeLeonardis family to purchase Delsea Drive-In, as Jude shared. They had moved from North Jersey to a rural part of South Jersey and noticed a lack of family-oriented venues. They even contemplated opening a skate park.

“It was a beautiful location, surrounded by trees, and we thought it felt like paradise,” she recalled. “There was a single screen and some remnants of a concession stand, and I jokingly suggested, ‘What if we brought back the theater?’ My husband replied, ‘Absolutely!’ and he took the idea and ran with it.”

According to Watzke, drive-ins are “kind of a time capsule,” where individuals put away their devices unless they’re capturing a moment with their kids or a sunset.

“If you talk to someone from my era,” Watzke reflected, “if they go to an indoor theater, they primarily remember the film itself. But if you ask them about their experience at a drive-in, they recall the car they had and the individuals they were with.

“It’s far more than just a movie; it’s a cherished memory.”

Contributing: Sean Dougherty, YSL News; Ryan Garza, Detroit Free Press